Volumetric feeder



June l1, 1940.

J. M. MONTGOMERY VOLUMETRIC FEEDER Filed July 15, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 1.1, 1940.

J. M. MoNrGoMERY VOLUMETRIC FEEDER Filed July' 15., 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Zin/veniva James Millan/m9071116? June 11, 1940 J. M. MONTGOMERY 2,204,097

VOLUIIETRIC FEEDER Filed July l5, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 June 1l, 1940 J. M. MoNTGoME-RY 2,204,097

VOLUHETRIC FEEDER Filed July l5, 1957' 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 RUNNING fl Jaunes MMQn'Lgozn/ery,

FRNQa i Passed .im 11,1940 2,204,097

4UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VOLUHETBIC FEEDER James u. mnuomery, New York, NgY.. winmto The Permntit Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware application July 15, 19:1, serai No. 153,842 1o claims.' (ci. zie-29) This invention relates to volumetric feeders; lated or reciprocated by the same motor andA inY and it comprises apparatus for measuring and reciprocating, to feed portions of the solid madispensing definite volumes of iiuent materials, terial out from the hopper. Adjustable link comprising a hopper adapted to contain a quanmeans are provided so that the length of travel tity of such materials, means providing an openby the swinging arcuate closure may be adjusted v ing in communication with the lower part of the during use by manipulating a stationary handle. hopper, an oscillating closure for the hopper bot- In the accompanying drawings there are shown tom so constructed and arranged that upon osmore or less diagrammaticaily three examples cillation oi the closure definite quantities of the of specic embodiments of apparatus within the material are dispensed through the opening, a purview of the invention. In the showings, m

motor, crank means connecting the closure and Fig. lis a side elevation of one apparatus; the motor so constructed and arranged that upon Fig. 2 is an end elevation; rotation of the motor the closure is oscillated, Figs. 3 and 4 are diagrammatic views to show stationary means for varying the eiiective throw the operation of the dispensing mechanism;

1s of the crank means, oscillating scraper means in Fig. 5 is a detailed elevation view showing an l5 the hopper, and power` transmitting crank means Optional agitator mem; connecting the motor with the scraper means. Fig. 6 is a side elevation showing a m'odicaadditional electrical control means sometimes tion having electrical control means; being provided; all as more fully hereinafter Fig. 'I is an end elevation of the apparatus of set forth and as claimed. Fig. 6; 20

In many chemical operations it is lnecessary Fig. 8 is a detail view ot a portion of the apto feed successiveportions or dosages of solid paratus of Figs. 6 and 'I; y materials at some definite rate, or in some defi- F185. 9 t0 12 are dirms 0f the electrical -Cilnite proportion, to a now of fluid. For example, cuits'of the apparatus shown in Figs. 6 and '1;

in water treatment it is necessary to feed softenand ing agents, coagulating agents or other material. F18- 13 i8 a' detail View of one 0f the Scrapers to a nov! of water in\predetermined proportions. of Figs. l and 2. Many types of apparatus have been devised for In the drawings, Figs. 1 and 2 show the comthis purpose and some have come into wide use. plete apparatus. The apparatus is located in- Feeding gramnar solids volumetncaiiy and acside e dustproof cabe Il. A hopper Il is proso curately presents difilculties. Solids will iiow vided in the form of the frustrum 0f a pyramid, somewhat like liquids if the solids are in the and having a rectangular extension l2 B11-the form of discrete grannies or particles and 1r they bottom- The hopper is adapted to contain e are kept in that condition as by agitation. 'In batch of granular orpulverulent solid material general, the harder, smoother, drier, coarser and I1. An arcuate closure I3 is arranged to cover 35 more nearly spherical the particles are, the more the bottom of this extension. One end wall `I2I readily they will flow. But there is always a of the extension is spaced above the arcuate clotendency for the granular solids to arch or cling sure defining an opening il as shown in Figs. 3 in the feed hopperand 4. The side walls |22 extend belowI the end 40 According to the present invention there is wall III and terminate in arcs adjacent the clo- 40 provided a volumetric dry feeder which is capable sure I3. The arcuate closure is mounted on a o! accurately dispensing measured volumes of lshaft Il and is arranged for reciprocation by pulver-dient or granular solid materials, such as an arm I6. The operation of these members lime, activated carbon, soda ash, alum, etc. The will be clear from Figs. 3 and 4. Upon movement 46 apparatus is well adapted for handling a wide of the closure to the right (Fig.l 3). granular 45 variety 0i mterials, ,including SOme which are material Il is drawn out on to the closure through otherwise particularly' difiicult to dispense voluopening Il. Upon movement of the-closure to metl'illy. The ppl'tus i8 5180 ledily the left, the solid material cannot beA forced adapted `for adjustment of the proportions disbackward into the hopper, but spills over the 50 pensed; .adjustment even while the apparatus is edge of the closure as shown in Fig. 4. '60 in operation. The apparatus comprises a feed A motor 2l with integral gear reduction is prohopper provided with scraper-like agitators opervided for operating the apparatus. The motorV ated by a motor which also drives the dispensing shaft has a crank 2l with an enlarged crank pin mechanism proper. The dispensing mechanism 22. A lever 22 slotted at 2l engages the crank 2l.-

comprises a swinging closure adapted to be oscil- The opposite end of thelever 23 is pivoted as at 56 to a sliding block 26 which is threaded and which is adapted to be shifted up and down by a screw 21 provided with an adjusting knob 28. Lever 23 is joined with arm i6 by a link 29 and pivot pins and 3|. The distance between pivot pins 30 and 3| is advantageously equal to the distance between pivot pins 25 and 3D. Upon rotation of the motor the arcuate closure is reciprocated by the mechanism shown. In Fig. 1, the apparatus is shown adjusted for almost a maximum feed rate. By screwing 'block 2G upward, the feed rate becomes less until when pivot 25 in block 26 is coaxial with pivot 3| the feed rate becomes zero. The adjusting means remains stationary so that periodic adjustment of the feed rate is made possible while the apparatus is in operation.

The apparatus is providedv with scraperagitator means comprising four Scrapers each consisting of a rod having a plurality of V- shaped members 36 mounted thereon. The rods ride in the four corners of the hopper and the V-shaped members scrape the sides as shown. The upper ends of the rods are attached to arms 31 which are fixed to a shaft 38 mounted in bearings 39 near the upper part of the hopper. A long arm 40 is affixed to the shaft and has a slot 4| at its outer end engaging crank pin 22. Thus by rotating the motor the agitator is operated. This agitator proves to be very successful in handling most kinds of solid materials. It prevents arching and clinging. A sliding gate 42 is provided so that the hopper supply can be shut off. if desired.

The motor and adjustment means are mounted on a casing 43 having an inspection door 44. The lower end of the casing communicates with a wash hopper 45 arranged to receive material dropping from the feed hopper. An inlet pipe 46 and an outlet pipe 41 are provided for liquid to be dosed and for the mixture respectively. A perforated spray pipe 48 is arranged inside the hopper and is supplied with liquid under pressure to wash material into the lower portion of the hopper.

While the agitating means shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is of wide utility, with certain substances, such as moist alum, it is sometimes better to provide a vibrating hammer. Such an arrangement is shown in Fig. 5. A hammer 50 having a rubber striking face 5|, is mounted on a shaft 52 pivotally mounted on the casing 43. A tension spring 54 connected to the hopper and to thev hammer tends to force the striking face against the side of the hopper. In place of the spring, other means can be used to force the hammer against the hopper, such as a weighted arm on the hammer. The shaft has a crank arm 53, so arranged as to be struck by the rotating crank pin 22. During each revolution of the crank pin the hammer strikes the hopper a blow and dislodges any material from the sides. The hammer can be used in addition to the reciprocating Scrapers if desired.

The various parts of the apparatus which come into contact with the solids and liquids are made of materials adapted to resist attack.

In operation, the device feeds solids accurately and reliably, Arching and clinging are minimized and the top surface of the mass of solids in the hopper stays practically level.

The device described operates as a constant rate feeder, the rate being adjustable by means of adjustment knob 28 or the motor speed or boh. The apparatus is readily adaptable for use as a proportional feeder controlled by a water meter or the like. Figs. 6 and 7 show how this is done.

Referring to Figs, 6 and '1, there is provided a. bracket 8U on the casing 43, having a sector plate 6I integral therewith and a bearing 92 adapted to receive a shaft 63 mounted for rotation therein. Mounted on the shaft is a ratchettoothed wheel 64 adapted to be advanced by a pawl 65 pressed against the wheel by spring B6 and pivotally mounted on the arm 61 which is journaled on the shaft. Arm 61 is connected by link 68 to lever 23. Thus upon rotation of the motor the toothed wheel E4 is caused to advance. A pawl 59 pivoted to bracket 60 is arranged to prevent backward motion of the ratchet wheel. At the 'outer end of the shaft is positioned a crank arm 68a having a crank pin 69 'sliding in an elongated slot 10 of an arm 1| pivotally attached to sector plate 6| by a pivot 12. Thus upon rotation of wheel 64 arm 1| is caused to oscillate in a vertical plane. Attached to the arm by clips 13 is a three-point mercury switch having a glass tube 14 with three contact elements 15, 16 and 11 extending therein and containing a body of mercury 18.

The construction of arm 1| will be clear from Fig. 8, which shows the arm and operating means alone, the switch being omitted from Fig. 8 for the sake of clarity of presentation.

The three conta elements are connected to three wires 19, nd 8|. Upon oscillation of arm 1|, the switc/I is alternately tipped to the right and to the l'eft, it is shown in central position in Fig. 7. ing the relative moment of wheel E4 under the influence of the pawl. This comprises a cam l2 floating on shaft 63 and adapted to be set in various angular positions by a springy handle Il having a pin 84 adapted to rest in any one of a plurality of holes 85 in the sector plate. When the handle is set at the extreme right, the cam does not interfere with the pawl i5 and on each rotation of the motor shaft, wheel 54 is advanced a plurality of teeth; in this case 12 teeth. With the handle in the position shown in Fig. 7, during part of the time a pin 58 on pawl 65 simply rides on cam 82 and hence lost motion is provided; the wheel is advanced only 7 teeth on each revolution of the motor. With the handle at the extreme left, the pin 53 rides on cam 92 all the time and the wheel is not advanced. This in effect puts the mercury switch out of operation. The feeder, once started', will operate continuously.

The electrical connections are shown in Fig. 7. A water meter is provided as shown at 99, having a rotary shaft 9| carrying a cam 92. An oscillating fork 93 is pivotally attached to the meter as at 94 and it rides on the cam. Upon rotation of the meter shaft the fork is alternately shifted left and right. It is held in each of the two positions by a snap spring 95. Fork 93 carries a mercury switch 96 similar to switch 14 and having three contacts 91, 99 and 99. Contacts 91 and 99 are attached through wires |00 and IUI to wires 8| and 19 respectively. Contact 98 is in communication through wire |92 with a source of electrical energy, not shown, such as an ordinary volt A. C. line. Contact 16 of the motor switch 14 is connected through wire 89 and a wire |03 with the motor. The other side of the motor is connected to the source of energy through a wire |94.

Referring to Figs. 9 to 12, Fig. 9 shows the con- Means are provided for'adjustand the circuit is dead.

.switch is shifted, as

nections just after the meter switch has moved to one of its two positions. The motor switch is in the position shown and a circuit is established through the motor as shown in heavy lines. The motor runs, and solids are fed. In due course, wheel il is advanced suillciently to shift the motor switch to its other position, as shown in Fig. 10. The meter switch remains as before In the course of time, afterA passage of a predetermined gallonage of water, the meter switch is moved to its other position, as shown in Fig. 11, and a new motor circuit is established., as shown by heavy lines, and solids are fed. This keeps up until the motor described before, whereupon the circuit goes dead (Fig. 12). The circuit is now ready for a new cycle of operations, upon shifting of the meter switch again to the position shown in Fig. 9.

The various parts of the mechanism are so designed that the motor switch always shifts before the meter switch is shifted; thus the meter always does the controlling.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for measuring and dispensing fluent materials volumetrically, comprising a hopper adapted to contain a quantity of such l bottom portion includmaterials and having a ing two side walls arcuate about a horizontal axis adjacent oneend of the hopper, an end wall adjacent said end and extending down to a level above the lower termination of the arcuate walls, and an opposite end Wall, an arcuate, oscillatable closure pivotally supported so as to swing about said axis and engaging the lower terminations of said arcuate walls to close of! the hopper bottom against downward flow, whereby on oscillation of the closure measured quantities of materials are dispensed, a link pivotally connected to the closure, `eccentric with respect to the axis thereof, for oscillation of the closure, a lever pivotally, connected to the link, a fulcrumlfor the lever, a motor, means operatively connected .to the motor for oscillating the lever' about said fulcrum, and stationary means for adjusting the relative position of said fulcrum with respect to the link, whereby to permit adjustment of the quantity of material dispensed by the closure at each oscillation thereof. l

2. Apparatus for measuring and dispensing fluent materials volumetrically, comprising a hopper adaptedl to contain a quantity of such materials and having a bottom portion including an end wall and two side walls' having lower edges. extending below said end wall, a member adjacent the lower edges ofv the side walls for dispensing chemicals, a shaft for said member, bearings in which said shaft is oscillatable, .anarm having one end attached to said'shaft, a motor, a crank rotatable by the motor, a lever having near one end an elongated slot adapted to engage said crank and a pivot near its otherfend, a link conneeting the other end o'f said arm with a pointon the lever,' the distance between said point and said pivot being equal to the length of said link,4

aiblook connected with moving said block.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, said last named means comprising a threaded' opening in said said pivot, and means for block, a screw in said opening, bearing means for said.. screw permitting rotation without axial moi/ement,l and a handle attached to said sciw.

4; Apparatus for measuring and dispensing fluent materials volumetrically, comprising a hopper adapted to contain a quantity of such disengage said arm 'ments of the. Yby the meter to establish a circuit after a predematenais andv having a bottom portion inelud- .ing an end wall and two side walls having lower arcuate edges extending below said end wall, an

arcuate member pivotally supported to oscillate edges of the side walls and adapted to dispense a definite quantity of material upon each oscillation of said member, a motor, a rotating eccentric element driven by the .motor,.means operatively connecting the rotating eccentric element with said member so that the motor is adapted to oscillate the member, means for adjusting the throw of said connecting means, and therefore the quantity of material dispensed upon each oscillation of the membery a plurality of scraper elements inside the hopper arranged for up and down movement therein, and means operatively connecting said scraper elements with the motor-driven eccentric element so that thescraper elements are moved up and down by the motor.

5. In an apparatus for measuring and dispensing fluent materials volumetrically, a hopper adapted to contain a quantity of such materials, an opening in communication with the lower part of the hopper, a closure below said opening below theV arcuate adapted to be moved back and forth and so arranged that upon each back and forth movement thereof a predetermined 1volume of material is dispensed through the opening, a motor, means driven by the motor and being adapted to move said closure-back and forth, a pivotally mounted hammer having a resilient striking face, resilient force-applying means tending to move said hamber against a wall of the hopper, an arm connected with the hammer, and a member in said motor driven means arranged to alternately engage and during each back and forth movement of said closure and thereby to alternately move the striking face away from the hopper vto be moved back toward the hopper by the resilient means -upon disengagement of the member from the arm.

6. In'an apparatus for measuring and dispensing fluent solid materials volumetrically in proportion to a ow of liquid, comprising a hopper adapted to contain a quantity of such materials,

o an opening in communication with the lower part of the hopper, a closure below said opening adapted to be moved back and forth and so arranged that upon each back and forth movement thereof a predetermined volume of material is dispensed through the opening, an electric motor, means driven by the motor and being adapted to move said closure back andlforth, and a meter adapted to measure the flow of liquid, an improved automatic control which comprises a cut-out switch operatively connected to said motor driven means to interrupt a circuit after a predetermined number of back and forth moveclosure, a starting switch operated termined quantity of liquid has passed through the meter, a source of electric energy, and electrical connections interconnecting the sourceof electric energy, the motor and said switches.

7. In an apparatus for measuring and dispensing fluent solid materials volumetrically in proportion to a iiow of liquid, comprising a hopper adapted to contain a quantity of such materials, an open bottom for the hopper, an opening in communication with the lower part of the hopper, an oscillating closure for the hopper bottom so constructed cillation of the material is dispensed and arranged that upon each osclosure a definite volume of the through-the opening, an

electric motor, a crank rotatable by the motor, means connecting the crank with the oscillating closure, and a meter adapted to measure the ilow of liquid an improved automatic control which comprises a cut-out switch, a ratchet wheel for operating the cut-out. switch, a pawl adapted to move the ratchet wheel, a linkage connecting said connecting means and the pawl for oscillating said pawl and thereby to move the cut-out switch to interrupt an electric circuit after a predetermined number of oscillations of the closure, a starting switch operable by the meter to establish an electric circuit after a predetermined quantity of liquid has passed through the meter, a source of electric energy, and electrical connections interconnecting the source of electric energy, the motor and said switches.

8. In the apparatus`of claim 7, an adjustable cam adapted to prevent the pawl from moving the ratchet wheel during part of each oscillation of the pawl for the purpose of adjusting the number of oscillations of the closure after which the cut-out switch interrupts the electric circuit.

9. In an apparatus for measuring and dispensing fluent solid materials volumetrically in proportion to a ow of liquid, comprising a hopper adapted tocontain a quantity of such materials, an open bottom for the hopper, an opening in communication with the lower part of the hopper, an oscillating closure for the hopper bottom so constructed and arranged that upon each oscillation of the closure a denite volume of the material is dispensed through the opening, an electric motor, a crank rotatable by the motor, means connecting the crank with the oscillating closure, and a meter adapted to measure the flow of liquid, an improved automatic control which comprises a three-point switch adapted to be moved by the motor from position to position every time the motor has made a predetermined number of revolutions, a second three-point switch adapted to be moved by the meter from position to position every time a predetermined quantity of liquid has passed through the meter, a source oi' electric energy, and electrical circuits series-connecting the motor and said three-point switches with the source of electric energy, each movement of said second three-point switch by the meter being adapted to establish a circuit energizing the motor and each movement of the rst three-point switch by the motor being adapted to interrupt a circuit, thereby de-energizing the motor.

10. In an apparatus for measuring and dispensing fluent materials volumterically, comprising a hopper open at the bottom and adapted to contain a quantity of such materials, an oscillating closure for the hopper bottom so constructed and arranged that upon oscillating the closure definite quantities of the material are dispensed, a motor, a lever one end of which is oscillated by the motor, link means connecting the lever with the oscillating closure, a pivot for the other end of the lever, stationary means for adjusting the position of said pivot with respect to the link means whereby to permit adjustment of the quantity of material dispensed by the closure at each oscillation thereof, and a meter adapted to measure a ilow of liquid, an improved automatic control which comprises a three-point switch adapted to be moved by the motor from position to position every time the motor has made a predetermined number of revolutions, a second three-point switch adapted to be moved by the meter from position to position every time a predetermined quantity of liquid has passed through the meter, a source of electrical energy, and electrical circuits series-connecting the motor and said three-point switches with the source of electric energy, each movement of said second threepoint switch by the meter being adapted to establish a circuit energizing the motor and each movement of the rst three-point switch by the motor being adapted to interrupt a circuit, thereby deenergizing the motor.

JAMES M. MONTGOMERY. 

